This week, we were invited to participate in the Andaman Reef Guardian event, hosted by SAMPAN and Greenfins Thailand, held at Nakara Resort on Koh Lanta. The event promised both practical workshops and training on how to conduct Reef Watch coral monitoring.

The day started with a demonstration about environmentally friendly cleaning products. We were given limes, salt, water and an enzyme, which we used to create our own multi-purpose cleaner. The dive centre is certainly going to smell a lot sweeter once we start using it!

We then went into a training session about coral identification and learned ways to assess coral coverage. We were given Reef Watch data recording books and shown how to use them on a dive to record data. This method can be used by both divers and snorkelers. The plan was to practice these skills during a diving trip the following day, but unfortunately bad weather conditions prevented this.

Recording data on coral is important as it allows us to monitor the health of reefs, which are vital to the ocean eco system. We intend to implement surveys using these methods at the beginning and end of each season to assess the health of the coral and the determine the impact human activity has on it.